18524965. THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT AND THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION MODULE simplified abstract (Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.)
Contents
- 1 THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT AND THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION MODULE
- 1.1 Organization Name
- 1.2 Inventor(s)
- 1.3 THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT AND THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION MODULE - A simplified explanation of the abstract
- 1.4 Simplified Explanation
- 1.5 Potential Applications
- 1.6 Problems Solved
- 1.7 Benefits
- 1.8 Potential Commercial Applications
- 1.9 Possible Prior Art
- 1.10 Unanswered Questions
- 1.11 Original Abstract Submitted
THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT AND THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION MODULE
Organization Name
Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
Inventor(s)
Masashige Kawabe of Kyoto (JP)
THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT AND THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION MODULE - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18524965 titled 'THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT AND THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION MODULE
Simplified Explanation
The fabrication method of a thermoelectric conversion element involves creating a first metal layer with Cu on one side of a thermoelectric conversion layer, and forming a first electrode and a first intermediate layer from this metal layer. The thermoelectric conversion layer consists of a material containing Mg and either Sb or Bi, with the first intermediate layer placed between the conversion layer and the first electrode. The compositions of the first intermediate layer, first electrode, and thermoelectric conversion layer are all different.
- First metal layer contains Cu
- Thermoelectric conversion layer contains Mg and either Sb or Bi
- First intermediate layer separates conversion layer and first electrode
- Compositions of layers are different
Potential Applications
The technology could be used in:
- Energy harvesting devices
- Waste heat recovery systems
- Portable power generation
Problems Solved
This technology addresses:
- Improving thermoelectric conversion efficiency
- Enhancing heat-to-electricity conversion
- Increasing overall energy efficiency
Benefits
The benefits of this technology include:
- Higher energy conversion efficiency
- Improved performance in thermoelectric applications
- Enhanced sustainability through waste heat recovery
Potential Commercial Applications
This technology could be applied in:
- Automotive industry for energy recovery
- Aerospace industry for power generation
- Electronics industry for energy-efficient devices
Possible Prior Art
One possible prior art is the use of different metal layers in thermoelectric conversion elements to improve performance. Another could be the incorporation of Mg and Sb/Bi in thermoelectric materials for enhanced efficiency.
Unanswered Questions
How does the composition of the first intermediate layer affect the overall performance of the thermoelectric conversion element?
The specific impact of the composition of the first intermediate layer on the efficiency and effectiveness of the thermoelectric conversion element is not detailed in the abstract.
What are the potential challenges in scaling up this fabrication method for mass production?
The abstract does not address the scalability and mass production challenges that may arise when implementing this fabrication method on a larger scale.
Original Abstract Submitted
A fabrication method of a thermoelectric conversion element includes forming a first metal layer containing Cu on a first surface of a thermoelectric conversion layer, and forming a first electrode and a first intermediate layer from the first metal layer. The thermoelectric conversion layer is composed of a thermoelectric conversion material containing Mg and at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Sb and Bi, the first intermediate layer is provided between the thermoelectric conversion layer and the first electrode, the first intermediate layer is in contact with the thermoelectric conversion layer, the first electrode is in contact with the first intermediate layer, and a composition of the first intermediate layer is different from both a composition of the first electrode and a composition of the thermoelectric conversion layer.
